Sunday, March 18, 2012

Google This -Does Daylight Savings Time Help Keep Kids Alive?

Shaye Martin, Age 8, struck by speeding motorist while walking on the sidewalk in a school zone.

Shaye died of his injuries.

Each day I receive a "Google Alert" entitled "Child dies in traffic accident." It is dis-heartening to receive dozens of stories each week about children of all ages who die because they...

...weren't buckled in...were waiting for a school bus when struck...were hit on their bike or skateboard...were backed over in a driveway or parking lot...were hit while walking on the sidewalk in a school zone by a speeding driver who jumps the curb...were hit while crossing in a marked crosswalk, often accompanied by a stop sign that a motorist drove right through

There are dozens of other accounts that can be added, but you get the picture - children are needlessly dying.

This brings me to the story of 9 year -old Tyala Marie Frazier, who died as a result of being hit twice while crossing the street to talk to a friend. She was waiting for her school bus in the dark after the recent change to daylight savings time - see Girl, 9, dies after being struck by car, then bus.

Tyala's death begs the questions:

-Would the first driver have spotted Tyala if it were light out, as it would have been prior to the time change?-What cautions are in place - signage, flashing lights, etc. to alert motorists that they are entering an early morning school bus pick-up zone?-Should school bus pick-up and drop-off zones be afforded the same protections in place in "school zones," since in a manner they are school zones in that students are present for the sole purpose of going to or returning from school?

As we seek to create safer roadway/roadside environments to benefit children of all ages, along with motorists, traffic engineering, law enforcement, and educational entities - including Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, must work together to realize progress in school zones and on neighborhood streets. One death is one too many. Every family, who like the Frazier's, experience the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident would undoubtedly echo this truth.

About Me

I am the founder of "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25," a non-profit that targets traffic safety concerns on neighborhood streets, and beyond. We work with communities to develop comprehensive traffic safety initiatives that engage residents in being the solution to the problems we ourselves create - speeding, stop-sign running, tailgating, etc. A special part of our mission is working with families who have experienced the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident. Learn more at www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org